Remember

• Poet


  Christina Rosetti
• born and died?

  1830-1894
• when did she write the poem and when was it published

  19 years old

  13 year later
• What type of a poem is Remember

  Petrarchan sonnet
• Brief summary


  Mourn and Commemorate a loved one after they have died. The speaker begs a loved one to remember her after her death but also not to feel guilty if he forgets her, so long as she's made some permanent mark on his life and he remains happy.

  a profound poem about death
• Title analysis

  "remember"

  a plea not to be forgotten
• 1st line

  "Remember me when I am gone"

  a command for her beloved
• What is a euphemism?


  is a polite way of saying something harsh
• 2nd line:

  "Gone far away into the silent land"

  Euphemism for death

  Euphemism for the afterlife

  silent=no communication
• What are the two metaphors in line 2?


  death is compared to going far away

  after life is compared to the afterlife
• What do line 1 and 2 tell us?

  The speaker (not the poet) knows that she will die

  
  

  the poet went on to live a long life

  however the speaker in this case knows that she will die and doesn't want her beloved to forget her
• 3rd line


  "When you can no more hold me by the hand"

  symbolises their physical relationship and shows that they will not be able to be physically near each other any longer
• 4th line

  "Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay"

  The speaker reminicises about moments they shared

  she is hesitant to leave and would rather stay by her beloveds side

  which shows her attitude to death that she doesn't want to die but she is forced
• 5th line

  "Remember me when no more day by day"

  highlights the time they spent together, they never wanted to be apart
• 6th line


  "YOU tell me of OUR future that you planned"

  the pronouns tell us that the speaker is addressing her beloved directly.

  Therefore the speaker is addressing her beloved perhaps in a letter after her death
• What do lines 5 and 6 tell us?


  They can no longer plan a future together a she will soon die
• 7th line

  "Only remember me; understand'

  Repetition of the word "remember" highlights the speakers concern of being forgotten

  she wants to live on through his memory
• 8th line

  "It will be late to counsel hen or pray"

  points out that nothing will bring her back to life or nothing will make her return
• What does the octave do?


  it looks back and focuses on memories, the pain of being apart and the speakers need to be remembered
• What is the tone of the first 8 lines?


  very urgent and fearful
• 9th line


  "YET if you should forget me for a while"

  the single world yet indicates the Volta and shows us that the tone is about to change as she becomes more level headed

  Therefore she now does not expect her beloved to always think of her
• 10th line

  "And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

  COLON: explanation to follow
• 11th line


  "For if the darkness and corruption leave"

  reference to the sadness she feels and the disease that is killing her
• 12th line


  "A VETSIGE of the thought that once I had"

  Vestige- a trace of something that is disappearing

  "the thought that once I had'

  represents the rationality and her mind
• What do line 11 and 12 tell us?


  if her disease leaves her with her senses she knows what the rational decision would be which is brought to light in the last 2 lines
• 13th and 14th line


  "Better by far you should forget and smile"

  she would rather be forgotten if this allowed her beloved to be happy than to be remembered and leave him heartbroken
• What do we realise at the end of the poem?

  That the speaks chooses to be selfless and has a change of heart and would rather be forgotten
• Explain the irony


  The last 2 lines provide a direct contrast with the title that demanded remembrance at the start
• Irony


  is when the opposite of what was expected happens
• What did the SESTET do? (lines after octave)


  finds a way to move forward
• What has the tone switched to in the SESTET?


  the tone is more calm and accepting of her fate
• Structure:

  Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet
• what is the rhyme scheme?

  ABBA ABBA - (lines 1-8) OCTAVE

  CDE ECE- (lines 9-14) SESTET
• What is the Volta?


  refers to the shift in mood or change in argument in a sonnet

  (Italian word for turn)
• What is the poem written in?


  employs iambic pentameter
• What are the theme of the poem?

  Elegy- remembers a loved one after they have crossed over or passed

  Death/afterlife

  Remembrance